Redknapp to bring British touch

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is confident he can close the gap with Arsenal while bringing back British traditions to White Hart Lane.

Spurs may have more silverware than their bitter rivals in the last three years
but Arsenal still have bragging rights in north London under Arsene Wenger by
consistently qualifying for the Champions League.

The Gunners have been underpinned by Frenchman Wenger, his cosmopolitan players
and a global scouting network - their victory against West Ham on Sunday saw
Theo Walcott as the only Englishman playing for them.

In contrast, Redknapp wants homegrown backroom staff and has targeted Tim
Sherwood as an assistant to join coach Kevin Bond in the new set-up.

Redknapp is also considering offering Les Ferdinand a part-time role coaching
his strikers.

Redknapp is the most expensive English manager following his weekend move from
Portsmouth - and he feels there is more homegrown talent outside the top
flight.

"I want to encourage the younger coaches to come in and get involved because
we've got to start to produce some young English managers who can manage at the
highest level,'' Redknapp said.

"I think there are plenty of English managers out there who, given the
opportunity, can do the job at the top clubs. People have to give them lads a
chance.

"Not all foreign managers are fantastic, we've got some great ones but they
are not all great. I'd love to see more English managers promoted and being
given jobs at bigger clubs.''

When his backroom staff have been decided, the task will be to challenge the
likes of Arsenal for a place in the top four of the Premier League.

After defeating Bolton on Sunday in his opening game in charge, Redknapp has
the chance of inspiring the first league win over Arsenal this century when he
takes his team to the Emirates Stadium.

The last manager to do so was Arsenal hero George Graham in 1999.

"Arsenal have moved ahead, without a doubt,'' Redknapp said. "It's going to
take time. They've moved away this season and there is a fair gap but with hard
work it can be closed.

"They are both major clubs and it is up to us to get Tottenham back to where
they should be.

"It's going to be a tough task going to Highbury....the Emirates Stadium is
tough too. They're a fantastic team and pass the ball brilliantly but we passed
the ball well on Sunday and I was impressed.''

Redknapp has brought five outcasts of the Juande Ramos era into his plans, with
Adel Taarabt, Ricardo Rocha, Paul Stalteri, Hossam Ghaly and Kevin-Prince
Boateng given squad numbers.

"It's a clean start,'' said Redknapp. "Those players are back in the squad
and I've been impressed with them.''

With numbers bolstered, he views Spurs' situation as less daunting than the
task facing him when he returned to Fratton Park in 2005 and survived relegation
against the odds.

Spurs head into the Arsenal clash bottom of the table, but Redknapp said: "The
toughest task was getting Portsmouth into the Premier League and then keeping
them there when I went back.

"I took over a team with no right to be in the Premier League really and we
managed to survive somehow.

"This is a tough task but we've got quality footballers here. This is a
fantastic football club. You've only got to walk around the place to feel it is
a club that is really geared for the big time.

"It's had the big time. I know the history of the club, from 1961-62 with Dave
Mackay.

"They've always had a style of football that has been well noted all around
the world.

"They were the original push-and-run team in the days of Eddie Bailey. It's a
football club with great tradition and there are great players here now.''

Redknapp does not view huge amounts of spending from clubs during the January
transfer window.

Contrary to reports, he would be allowed to sign Jermain Defoe if the striker
came available.

Under Premier League rule L19 a player is not allowed to return to his former
club within 12 months of leaving, but the regulation is to avoid abuse of the
registration system and would not be applicable in this case.

"I spoke to the chairman and there's not going to be an awful lot of money
around in January and I think it's going to be a tight transfer window because
of the recession which has hit the country,'' Redknapp said.

"We'll have to look around for a couple of bargains like everybody else.''